Law and Public Health, JD/MPH

The University of Pittsburgh Schools of Law and Public Health offers students an interdisciplinary curriculum in law and public health, health policy, and management. Students in this integrated joint degree program learn to address the legalities and challenges affecting individual health care and the health of entire populations. The joint Juris Doctor and Master of Public Health in Health Law Policy and Management (JD/MPH) recognizes the connections between law and the broad range of health services and provides students with an interdisciplinary curriculum in law and public health, health policy, and management. Students learn to address the legalities and challenges affecting individual health care and the health of entire populations.

Graduates pursue careers serving governmental agencies at the federal, state, and local levels, practicing law representing private clients, serving as in-house counsel or on the management team at healthcare organizations and systems, and working with non-profit and community-based organizations.

Many contemporary issues - from the threat of bioterrorism to health care reform to the opioid epidemic - create a need to balance individual rights with public protection and demand expertise in law and public health, making public health law an exciting and vital focus for attorneys.

For Additional Information

For information regarding entrance examinations, tuition and financial aid, writing requirements and field experience, please visit the GSPH website.

Curriculum & Requirements

Students enrolled in the joint degree program take Pitt Law and Pitt Public Health classes. In the ordinary course, the first year of law school must be completed in a single academic year before embarking on studies in public health. Students must complete 76 credits in the JD curriculum. Neither degree may be granted before fulfilling all requirements for the joint degree program.

Joint degree students earn their credentials faster (8 semesters instead of 10) and with fewer course requirements than if each degree were completed separately.

Note

For detailed term-specific course descriptions, please go to the Schedule of Classes Course Lists on the Law School web site.

Add to Portfolio (opens a new window)